WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The decommissioned aircraft carrier, ex-America (CV 66) departed the Navy’s Inactive Fleet Facility April 19 for its final and vital mission as a live-fire test and evaluation, and weapons effect platform for the next generation aircraft carrier.

The events will consist of a variety of comprehensive tests above and below the waterline.

“These tests will allow invaluable data to be collected to be used by naval architects and engineers to improve the design and survivability of the nation’s future aircraft carrier fleet," said Rear Adm. Dennis M. Dwyer, program executive officer for carriers. "This new generation of carriers will allow the Navy to fulfill the missions of the 21st and 22nd centuries and to protect the sons, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the veterans of this great ship."

The third Navy ship to carry the name, USS America, CV 66 sailed the world’s oceans for more than 30 years as a symbol of freedom and democracy. From the day America was commissioned Jan. 23, 1965, until her decommissioning Aug. 9, 1996, the ship played a significant role in almost every conflict the United States faced.

During her lifetime, America deployed three separate times to support combat operations in Vietnam and played an integral role in supporting the United States' Cold War efforts. America helped liberate Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm, enforced no-fly zones over southern Iraq during Operation Southern Watch, participated in Operation Continued Hope in Somalia, Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, and in NATO operations in Bosnia.

Felt that way when the USS Coral Sea CVA-43 went to the cutting torch. But the statement in the message above gives hope and purpose to this proud vessels end....“These tests will allow invaluable data to be collected to be used by naval architects and engineers to improve the design and survivability of the nation’s future aircraft carrier fleet," said Rear Adm. Dennis M. Dwyer, program executive officer for carriers. "This new generation of carriers will allow the Navy to fulfill the missions of the 21st and 22nd centuries and to protect the sons, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the veterans of this great ship."

we did underway refueling from the america, it was pretty awesome to be sailing that close to her at that speed.i only wish they has sunk her in scuba diving depth , it would be one awesome wreck dive.. better sunk then razor blades....

I surmise these tests to the former USS America (CV-66) will provide an unprecedented watershed of forensic information. Essentially she will be tested to destruction. So gratefully, no similar huge warship has ever been sunk in combat, or sunk yet. She represents the culmination of more than 50 to 100 years in design technology, armor, compartmentation, fire fighting, and flood control and likely much more. Such a vessel has never ever really had been put to the ultimate test. USS Forrestal (CV-59) came closest with it's terrible fire in 1968 in the Gulf of Tonkin. Enterprise (CVN, then CVAN-65) then too. What information gained will be of inestimable value in the next generation of nuclear powered super carriers, CVN-78 and beyond. A visible evolution of change of late has already begun with the new Ronald Reagan CVN-76, and the future George W. Bush CVN-77. The new CVN-78 representing a new generation of such ships and beyond is in the design stage now.

Such tests may harken back to the tests off the New Jersey coast when Col. Billy Mitchell demonstated a battleship could be sunk by aircraft alone in the 1920's. Then there is the then unprecedented shock tests to the brand new USS Tambor (SS-198) fleet submarine in December 1940. This was later expanded to all new ship types, but the famous Tambor tests were they very first. These tests have been credited with providing more useful information on the effects of explosions on submarines than all World War II experience combined. These tests were responsible for detecting and correcting many conditions that could have been fatal if experienced under actual attack. The Navy very often does do things right!